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Twiggy Baker wins Red Bull Big Wave Africa 2008

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The Red Bull Big Wave Africa 2008 is done and dusted and the official results are now in: South Africa’s Twiggy Baker has won. 15 to 20 foot sets and clean conditions was a fitting way to celebrate the event’s 10th year.

The Red Bull Big Wave Africa is the second longest running big wave event in the World. This year’s event saw one of the biggest swells in the last few years hit South Africa’s coast with every big wave rider looking on and when the decision to go green was called, ‘many riders looked on with great anticipation and racing adrenaline levels’, said Carlos Burle.
South Africa’s Baker, who hails from Durban, dominated the half hour final with two bomb waves, which he rode resolutely, scoring 8.2 and 9. Like previous winner John Whittle, also of Durban, Baker modestly attributed his victory to luck, saying he was fortunate the winning waves came his way, before he dedicated the win to his late father, who passed away 20 years ago to the day last weekend.

Runner up Burle spent the latter half of the heat chasing Twiggy’s scores, but couldn’t quite find the second big set he required. The same counted for 2003 BWA victor Long, who scored a perfect 10-point tube ride earlier in the day and caught the first wave of the final, taking off deep on a massive wall and riding it high and critical in the pocket, but spent the rest of the time scratching around trying to find a back-up wave.

After the prize giving, conducted in front of a huge and vocal crowd from the Nauticat, quayside in Hout Bay Harbour, the full final results are: Twiggy Baker (RSA) in first, Carlos Burle (BRZ) second, Greg Long (USA) third, James Taylor (RSA) fourth, Anthony Tashnick (USA) fifth and Mark Healy (HI) in sixth.

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